Generic Universal Rewards Loyalty Card

• US 20110238471A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Richard Trzcinski
• Original Assignee: John Richard Trzcinski
• Inventors: Trzcinski, John Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/730,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238471A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems

Abstract

A method and system for enabling a customer to participate in a plurality of rewards programs, operated by a plurality of retailers, using the same generic loyalty card. The customer submits registration information, and is issued a card which may be used to participate in rewards programs with any of a plurality of retailers. The generic loyalty card may be used for rewards programs in either an in-store visit or an online transaction with the retailer. Additional registration information may be submitted using a customer mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving registration information from a customer;

issuing a card to the customer in response to receiving the registration information;

receiving information encoded on said card and information relating to a customer transaction with a retailer, said retailer being any one of a plurality of retailers; and

offering to said customer participation in a rewards program operated by said retailer, in accordance with said registration information;

thereby enabling said customer to participate in a plurality of rewards programs, in accordance with said registration information and in accordance with use of the same said card.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising making rewards available to the customer, in accordance with said rewards program.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving information encoded on said card is performed using a card reading device during a visit by said customer to said retailer.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving information encoded on said card comprises receiving information submitted by the customer during an online transaction with said retailer.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information encoded on the card is stored in a memory device disposed on the card.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said memory device stores information generic to all of said rewards programs and information specific to each rewards program for which said customer is registered.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving additional registration information from a customer mobile device.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said additional registration information relates to a rewards program operated by a retailer having no previous transaction with said customer, thereby enabling said customer to participate in said rewards program in a first transaction with said retailer.

9. A system comprising:

a server configured to

receive registration information from a customer;

said registration information relating to rewards programs operated by a plurality of retailers,

receive information encoded on a card issued to the customer in accordance with said registration information and information relating to a customer transaction with a retailer, said retailer being any one of said plurality of retailers, and

process said information relating to the customer transaction to track customer activities with respect to said rewards programs; and

a data storage device configured to store said registration information, said information encoded on said card, said information relating to the customer transaction, and information relating to said rewards programs.

10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality of card reading devices located at each of said plurality of retailers.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein said server and said data storage device are operated by an entity responsible for issuing said card.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein said server is configured to receive additional registration information from a customer mobile device.